Inside Icon Princess Diana’s Honeymoon: PHOTOS

In the summer of 1981, just days after the royal wedding that captivated millions, Princess Diana and Prince Charles embarked on their honeymoon — a 12-day voyage through the Mediterranean aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Now, photos from the trip are giving fans a closer look at the couple’s first adventure as newlyweds, from elegant state dinners to quiet moments at sea.

Princess Diana’s Heartfelt Letter and Mediterranean Honeymoon Highlights

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Diana wrote to Maud Pendry, a former housekeeper at the Spencer family home, shortly after the celebrations, calling the honeymoon “a tremendous success” and “a glorious time,” according to InStyle. She also thanked Pendry for her help with the wedding, which drew a global television audience of more than 750 million.

“I do hope you weren’t too tired after all the wedding activities, and that you were able to see a lot from where your seats were,” Diana wrote. “The honeymoon was a tremendous success, and we had a glorious time catching up on our lost energy and sleep. I just wanted you both to know how deeply touched I am by your thoughtfulness and, again, a million thanks. Endless love and affection—Diana.”

Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

Their voyage included stops in Tunisia, Algeria, Sicily, the Greek islands, Egypt, and Scotland. Newly shared photos from the Royal Yacht Britannia reveal glimpses of their journey — from intricate menu cards to formal dinner settings. Former royal head chef Mervyn Wycherley described the trip on The Sun’s Royals Exclusive Show as “very private” with a small entourage, adding that Diana “always treated the staff like family” and made sure everyone, from the chef to the driver, felt included.

What Prince Charles Brought Along—and the Reported Tension at Sea

Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

While Diana’s letter suggested a fairy-tale escape, royal biographer Penny Junor painted a more complex picture in her book “The Duchess.” According to Junor, Charles came prepared for a very different kind of honeymoon, packing his watercolours, canvases, and a stack of books by Afrikaner writer Laurens van der Post. He reportedly hoped the couple might read and discuss the books in the evenings.

But Diana, who Junor noted was “no great reader,” did not share that enthusiasm. “She hated his wretched books and was offended that he might prefer to bury his head in one of them rather than sit and talk to her,” Junor wrote.

Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

The difference in how they envisioned their time together allegedly led to tension. “She resented him sitting for hours at his easel, too, and they had many blazing rows,” Junor revealed.

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